Key holding ring



Dec. 9, 1952 co 'r 2,620,650

KEY HOLDING RING Filed April 5, 194a INVENTOR ALDO COTT| Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED Application April 5, 1948, Serial N 0. 19,136 In Italy April 16, 1947 4 Claims.

'The present invention relates to a key holding ring.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a key holding ring which can be inexpensively produced.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a key holding ring allowing the keys to slide freely along the ring.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a key holding ring which does not tend to open under the pull of an attached chain.

A key holding ring according to the present invention comprises in combination, a bent Wire having substantially circular shape and parallel end portions, each end portion including, spaced at short distance from its end, a cylindrical portion of reduced diameter bounded by two annular guiding face portions extending normal thereto, and a bridge member having one end formed with a hole and being pivotally mounted therewith on the cylindrical portion of one of said end portions, and being of such thickness as to be guided by the annular guiding face portions when rotated so as to be adapted for movement only in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the bent wire, the bridge member having the other end shaped as a hook adapted to engage the cylindrical portion of the other end portion of the bent wire.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyin drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a key holding ring according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan View of a key holding ring shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a part of the key holding ring shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 and 2, the key holding ring comprises a bent wire I havin substantially circular shape and paralleL'preferably outwardly bent end portions I and I". Each of the end portions I and l" includes respectively a cylindrical portion l0, I2, of reduced diameter spaced a short distance from its end and bound by two annular guiding face portions such as I 1 extending normal thereto. Furthermore, the key holding ring comprises a bridge member 2 having one end thereof formed with a hole 5 shown in Figure 3 and being pivotally mounted therewith on the cylindrical portion lb of the end portion l. The bridge member 2 is of such thickness as to be guided by the annular guiding face portions such as II when rotated so as to be adapted for movement only in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the bent wire l. This plane is normal to the plane of the paper in Figure 1 and parallel thereto in Figure 2. The other end B of the bridge member 2 is shaped as a hook 6' adapted to engage the cylindrical portion I2 of the other end portion I of the bent Wire I.

Preferably the mid portion of the bridge member 2 is provided with a loop means 5 shown in Figure 3 or with oppositely curved portions 2 and 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. 'The loop 4 and the oppositely curved portions 2 and 2" extending in longitudinal direction and forming an eyelet are adapted for connection with holding means (not shown) such as a chain. 1

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of key holding rings differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a key holding ring comprising a bent wing and a bridge member, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any Way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A key holding ring, comprising in combination, a bent wire having substantially circular shape and parallel end portions, each end portion including, spaced a short distance from its end, a cylindrical portion of reduced diameter bounded by two annular guiding face portions extending normal thereto; and a bridge member having one end formed with a hole and being pivotally mounted therewith on the cylindrical portion of one of said end portions, and being of such thickness as to be guided by said annular guiding face portions when rotated so as to be adapted for movement only in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by said bent wire, said bridge memher having the other end shaped as a hook adapted to engage the cylindrical portion of the other end portion of said bent wire.

2'. A key holding ring, comprising in combination, a bent wire having substantially circular shape and outwardly bent parallel end portions, each end portion including, spaced a short distance from its end, a cylindrical portionof reduced diameter bounded by two annular guiding face portions extending normal thereto; and a bridge member having one end formed. with. a hole and being pivotally mounted therewith on the cylindrical portion of one of said end portions, and being of such thickness as to be guided by said annular guiding face portions when rotated so' as; to. be adaptedior movement only: in.

a plane .perpendicularito the plane definedby said bentwire; said bridge member: having. the other end: shaped as a. hookadapted. to engage the.

cylindrical portionof the; other end portion of said bentwire;

3.. Akey" holding ring, comprising combination, a. bent; wire having. substantially circular shape. and: parallel .end portions; each end portion. inc1uding,.,spaced.a shortdistance from: its;end;. a.

cylindrical, portionof. reduced. diameter bounded by two. annular: guiding face. portions extending normal thereto; abridge member. having one end: formed with a hole and beingv pivotallymounted:

therewith on the. cylindrical portion of. one of said .endportions; andbeingof such thickness: as.

to. be guided by said annular guiding face portionswhen: rotatedso as. to be adapted for'movementonly in a: plane'perpendicular to theplanedefined.- by said; bent wire, said bridge member 40 having. the other end shaped as a hookadapted to engage the cylindrical portion of the other end portion of said bent wire; and loop means arranged in the mid-portion of said bridge member and adapted for connection with holding means. 4. A key holding ring, comprising in combination, a bent wire having substantially circular shape and parallel end portions, each end portion including, spaced a short distance from its end, a cylindrical portion of reduced diameter bounded by two annular guiding: face portions; extending normal thereto; a bridgemember having one end formed with a hole and being pivotally mounted therewith on the cylindrical portion of one of said endportions, and being of such thickness as to be guided by said annular guiding face portions when rotated so as to be adapted for movement only in aplane perpendicular to the plane defined by said bent wire, said bridge member having the other end shaped as a hook adapted to engage the cylindrical portion of the other end portion of said bent wire; and oppositely curved portions: of; the mid-portionofi said bridge member extending in longitudinal direction forming; an; eyeletfor: connection withholding. means-.-

ALDO COTI'L REFERENCES; (SITE!)- The foliowing references are of recordinthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES. PAIFIEHQTS- Number Name. Date:

690;:396 Brown. Jan; 7,. I902 1,571,4 25 Mataloni. Feb; 2,; 1926- 1;; 25', tl 5 Bufifington: .May- 3, 1927 1,721,801. Alexander J111y.:23;;1929= 2,361,069? Steinhardt ....Oct. 243.19%

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,097 Austria Apr. 10;.1907 99,104 Switzerland: May 1, 1922 372,949 Italy J uly. 14, 1939- 

